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L. A. SPROUL.

ENSILAGE HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. 1918.

1 ,308,81 8. Patented July 8, 1919.

6 SHEETSSHEET I.

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L. A. SPROUL.

ENSILAGE HARVESTER.

APPLlCATION FILED SEPT. 23. 1918. 1,308,818. Patented July 8,1919.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON. D. c.

L. A. SPROUL.

ENSILAGE HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. 19:0.

Patented July 8, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

m n M ZL/ZJWWJZ PHI COLUMBIA FIJNOGRAPH CO L. A. SPROUL.

ENSILAGE HARVESTER.

APPLICATION HLED 529123. ms.

Patented July 8,1919.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

L. A. SPROUL.

ENSILAGE HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. 1918.

1 ,308,81 8. Patented July 8, 1919.

6 $HEETSSHEET 5- 1' B COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH 60.. wAsmNcimN. D. c.

L. A. SPROUL.

ENSILAGE HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. 191B.

Patented July 8, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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IA pummuml w LARK ATHEN SPBOUL, OF EDMOND, KANSAS.

j ENSILAGE-HABVESTEB. I I i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed September 23, 1918. Serial No. 255,302.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LARK ATHEN SPROUL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edmond, in the county of Norton and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Ensilage-Harvester, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for harvesting and reducing it to ensilage, one of the objects of the invention being to provide a machine for simultaneously cutting the standing corn in a desired number of rows, feeding the corn from the different rows to a single ensilage cutter, and directing the ensilage to a wagon or the like provided therefor, the entire operation taking place automatically without requiring handling by the operator.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character which is compact in construction and can be controlled readily.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the arts without departin from the spirit of the invention as claimefi.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. 7

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing, diagrammaticallmthe power transmitting mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line H, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of one side of the ensilage cutting mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the other side thereof.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of one of the transverse conveyers and showing the harvesting mechanism combined therewith.

Fig. 8 1s a section on line 88 Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 isa plan view of a portion of the longitudinal. conveyor and showing its harvesting mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a transverse section through the longitudinal conveyer and a portion of the transverse conveyor.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the inner side of one of the stalk gatherers with the chains removed.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section therethrough.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates the frame of the machine having supporting wheels 2 and 3 to which the frame may be adjustabl connected by bearings 4 having superpose openings 5. The wheel 3 is located close to one side of the frame 1 while the wheel 2 is located within the frame and inwardly from the other side thereof, thereby providing a space on the frame between sald wheel 2 and the side of the frame, for an engine 6. A supplemental frame 7 is pivotally connected to the frame 1 at the front of the engine side thereof and the rear portion of this frame is adjustably connected to hangers 8 while the front portion is supported b casters 9. A draft tongue 10 may be attac ed to this supplemental frame and is adapted to be hitched to a team or to a tractor. With the adjustable connections between the wheels 2 and 3 and their bearings and the adjustable connection between frame 7 and the hangers 8 the machine can be raised and lowered and tilted, as desired.

Arranged longitudinally of the machine close to the wheel 2 is a trough 11 which extends from the front portion of the frame 1 and rearwardly close to super osed feed rolls 12 and 13 located directly 1n front of the inlet opening 14 of the housing 15 of an ensilage cutter 16, the knives 17 on said cutter cooperating with a stationary knife 18 located in the opening 14 as shown in Fig. 4. The housing 15 has a movable cover 19 whereby access can be had readily to the cutters and a discharge spout 20 extends downwardl from the housing.

The sha 21 of the cutter 16 extends transversely of the machine and is provided at one end with a fly wheel 22 while conneeted to its other end is a pulley 23 re ceiving motion through a belt 24 or the like from the wheel 25 on the engine shaft 26. A gear 27 is secured to the shaft 21 at one side of the housing 15 and meshes with a gear 28 secured to one end of the shaft 29 of the lower feed roll 12. The shaft 30 of the upper feed roll 13 is journaled in the upper ends of standards 31 having springs 32 for thrusting them downwardly, thereby to press the roll 13 yieldingly against the roll 12. Another gear 33 is secured to the shaft 29 at the other side of the housing 15 and constantly meshes witha gear- 34 the shaft 35 of which is provided with. L sprocket 36. A link 37 is mounted to swing on shaft 35 and has a stud 38 on Which a gear- 39 is jou-rn-aled this gear meshing with the gear 34. Another link 40. is photon mounted on the stud 38 and is engaged by the shaft 3D,.thB1Ieboi-Rg a, gear 43; on said she-fit meshing with the. gear 39.. Sec Figs. 6 and 7. Thus it will be seen that can be transmitted positiyely to both flood rolls 12 and 13 and, at the same time the roll 13 is free o move toward and: from. th roll 12.

Secured to the shaft 29' close to thegoam 28.15 a sprocket 42: adopted to. transmit mo tion through. a. chain 43 to a spnooket 44 secured to a shaft 45. This: shaft. [Waile ably alines with but. is separate. from the shaft 35. It extends transversely below the rear portion oi the trough H (see Fig. 4) and carries sprockets 46; or the likeon! which mounted rmen-dless oonvoyor 47 the upper portion. of which travels on; the

bottom. of the trough. The il'izont portion of th conveyor is suqepovted by a shaft 4,8421% to. the. from; of the frame 1. As show-m. the conveyor is preferably formed of parallel.- cheins connected by! eleats 49; It, will be obvious that, during the actuation! of the ensilmge' cutter amdthe feed rolls, the conveyor will be operated t convey stalks. end first, irom the. from end of the moollliim reeirwardly between the rolls 12' and 13 and to the setter.

Suitably suppoarted above the rear poo tion ofi the conveyor 4% and inclined; do n wardly and rearwasrdly towardthe upper feed roll, 13, is a frame 50 having shafts 51 and 5.2 journeled in the u rand lower portitms thereorfi 'Ilhose she is cornyrolls 53 on whioh is mount d on endless belt 544 having (rose more A sproolsee 56: is secured to one end of haft 5]: an W ceives motion. through a. chain 5.7: firm the sprocket 36. The belt 54. serves to e g ge the ends of the stalks when fed tamed one rolls 1% and: 13 and divest them poeitirely' to the pass between the rolls;

Located at ne side f the trough 11 and extending toward the wheel 3 is stable 58 shove theside' edge. portions oi Whioh ar journaled loogitudinnl shafts 59 and 66 cairryingrollers 61 or the like 011 which is mounted a transverse conveying apron 6%. This apron is oi a Width approximately equailto. thelenaoh of the out stalks and it.

isopersted through gears 681 and so from a transverse shaft: 65 extending along Elie? front portion oat the frame 1. Gear 631 i secured fio'whilegeer 64 is secur d to the ska ft, 65. Another gear $6 is secured ushafi. 65,; aud mvss m tion thrqiwh gear 67 from a longitudinal shaft (38. A gear (39 is secured to the rear end oi the shaft 68' and receives motion through :1 gear Z0. HQCIUIGKl to the shaft 21. Thus it will be seen that While the longitudinal conveyor 47 is being operated in the manner herein before described for directing stol lts end 110, the cutting inerlmnism in the housing 15, the apron 62 is also operated to convey transversely to the conveyor L7 all stalks deposited on said apmon. This trans verse movement; of the stalks by the age-Hon an be faci itated y securing sprockets 7], on the, shofits 59 and 60- a-nd mounting an endless chain. Z2, thereon, said chain, haw flflg fingers 73 for engaging and dragging the heads of the A hood- 74 5 P FQ'fBl ably arranged over the chain 72 and the rearend 015 the conveyor apron 62 for gmkL ing the heads of the stalks positively to, position under the belt 54.

Eiwumd on the firon t end Oif the frmne 1 directly in front of the conveyor 447 is a trippi-mg pain 751 open at the front end and having forwardly diverging side wings '76 extending therefrom. A stationery kmi-ie 7; extended forwardly from the frame 1 be tween the Wings 76. Another Wiping pan 78- ismounted on the iron-tot the fram 1 and in front. of the apron 62- and is spaced: from the! 111m '15 e diets-nee equal to. the dis tame between two rows of standing stalks; The en '18 is of the some oonshrilcidfim as pan '65 with the exception that the rear portion oi that side thereof nearest the conveyor trough 11 is out away, as "at 79 thihls to leave nothing for the stalks to hang onto and permit the bum. ends of stalks to pass freely ut; oftibe pen when moved laterally y h apron 52 A stationary knife 89 ext n s forwardly from the frame 1 and between the Wings of the pain 78. Itisdrobo tmdommwi, of worse, that ifi he maohine is. ofsufioiemt width, several of the pans 18 may be used, one fierce. TOW, and the apron oanconn qyiem stalks from sell; of said rows, to; the troiighl'l. In the present instance only a two row mahine has been shown, but: by increasing" the width three or more rows can e owewod simultane usly Mounted for reciprocation upon the irolet portion of the. firamc 1 is a bar 85% haying cutting teeth 82 arranged in groom s one comveyens kii email 62 the teeth 894 will he: Peh

ciprooated rapidly and timesoailkssbamdingsih the paths! thereof- Willi'bflr severed. Ashlie machine; isedmming during this eparation l i the lbutt ends of the severedisiaiiilxlasi 101B moiimo n o the Pans Z5 and i8: until they came gainst the bank Walls 05E the one whomupon they Will be tripped: vial name wardly onto the conveyers 47 and 62 respectively.

J ournaled on the front portion of the frame 1 are vertical shafts 85 receivin motion through gears 86 from the sha 05. These shafts 85 are arranged in pairs, one of the tripping pans being extended between the shafts of each pair. The upper ends of the shafts are journaled in downwardly and rearwardly inclined frames supported above the conveyers 47 and 62 and arranged in pairs, these frames being indicated at 87. The frames of each pair are spaced apart and each frame is formed of an upper and a lower wall between which is arranged an endless chain 88. The chains have laterally extending fingers 89 adapted to project into the space between the frames, thus to engage stalks located between said frames. One of the sprockets 90 on which each chain is mounted, is secured to a shaft; section 91 connected by a universal coupling to the upper end of the adjacent shaft 85.

Upper and lower gathering frames 02 are extended forwardly from the shafts 85 the corresponding frames on the shafts 85 of each pair coiiperating to form stalk receiv ing spaces therebetween. Each frame is made up of upper and lower walls 93 suitably connected to each other and between the two walls are sprockets 9i and 95, the sprockets 94. being secured to the shafts 85. Endless chains 96 are mounted on the sprockets and between the walls of the frames and have. laterally extending fingers 97 adapted to project into the spaces between the gathering frames. The stalk engaging portions of the chains may be provided with backings 98 formed of spring strips secured within the frames, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The f ames 9:2 of each pair are preferably fastened to each other by crossed braces 90 as shown. By providing the arrangement of gathering devices described and shown it will. be apparent that, as the machine is operated. the chains 96 will hold the stalks upright while being cut and. when the stalks pass onto the pans 75 and 78 they will be pulled thereover and be engaged by the fingers on the chains 88 which will, in turn, draw the stalks downwardly and rearwardly so as to deposit them properly on the respeeti ve conveyers.

For the purpose of delivering the comminutcd cnsilage from the machine, an inclined conveyer 100 is arranged to receive the material from the spout 20, this conveyer being operated by a chain 101 engaging sprockets 102 and 103 connected respectively to the shaft 59 and the lower shaft 104 of the elevator.

What is claimed is i 1. A machine for harvesting ensilage including a longitudinal conveyer, a tripping pan open at the front end and overhanging the front portion of the conveyer, stalk cutting mechanism in front of the pan, means for engaging the cut stalks and dragging them over the pan, means for directing the head ends of the stalks downwardly and rearwardly onto the conveyer.

2. A machine for harvesting ensilage including a longitudinal conveyer, a tripping pan at the front thereof and open at the front, gathering wings at the sides of the pan, stalk severing means in front of the pan, spaced stalk gathering means, above and in front of the pan, for dragging sev cred stalks in upstanding positions over the pan thereby to trip the stalks, means for directing the head ends of the tripped stalks downwardly and rearwardly onto the conveyer.

3. A machine for harvesting ensilage including a longitudinal conveyer, a transverse conveyer for directing material there onto, a tripping pan adjacent the front portion of each conveyer, stalk severing means in front of each pan, means above each pan for gathering stalks and dragging them, when severed, over the pan and in upstanding positions, until tripped by the pan, means for engaging the tripped stalks and lowering them rearwardly onto the respective conveyors to lie longitudinally of the machine, stalk compressing means at the rear end of the longitudinal conveyer, and means for guiding the tops of the stalks on the transverse eonveyer into position under said compressing means.

A machine for harvesting ensilage including a longitudinal conveyor, an ensilage cutter at. rear end thereof, delivering mechanism extending from the cutter, stalk compressing mechanism for directing stalks from the conveyer to the cutter, a stalk cutter at the front end of the conveyer, a transverse conveycr for delivering stalks onto the longitudinal conveyer, and a stalk in front thereof, and means interposed between the respective stalk cutters and the conveyers, for tripping the stalks, when out and depos iting them on the conveyors and longitudinally of the machine,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto ailixcd my signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

LARK ATHEN SPROUL.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM RAILSBACK, HARRY R. HUDSONPILLOR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

